The following check list and calendar is provided for your convenience to organize your time and planning and to make sure you take care of all the details of your wedding.
 

Bride's Checklist

Six to Twelve Months Before

  • Select a wedding date and time

  • Make a preliminary budget

  • Determine your wedding theme or style

  • Reserve your ceremony and reception location

  • Determine who will officiate at the ceremony

  • Hire a wedding consultant, if you plan to use one

  • Decide on your color scheme

  • Determine the size of the guest list

  • Start compiling names and addresses of your guests

  • Select bridal attendants

  • Have fiancée select his attendants

  • Plan reception

  • Check catering facilities, if at a restaurant or hotel

  • Select a caterer

  • Select a professional photographer and videographer

  • Select a professional florist

  • Select your dress and headpiece

  • Announce your engagement in the newspaper

  • Select bridesmaids' dresses

  • Select engagement ring with fiancée

 

Groom's Check List

Six to twelve months before

  • Purchase the bride's engagement ring

  • Discuss with fiancée the date and type of wedding

  • Start on your guest list

  • Choose best man and ushers

  • Start planning and making necessary arrangements for the honeymoon

 

Four months before

  • Make final arrangement for ceremony (deposits should be paid, contracts signed).

  • Make sure all bridal attire is ordered

  • Have both mothers coordinate and select their dresses

  • Register at a bridal registry in the towns of both families

  • Order invitations and personal stationery

  • Complete the guest lists

  • Select the men's wedding attire and reserve the right sizes

  • Check requirements for a Florida marriage license

  • Shop for wedding rings

  • Start planning the honeymoon

  • Begin shopping for trousseau

 

Four months before

  • Shop with fiancée for wedding rings

  • Complete your guest list

  • Check requirements for Florida marriage license

  • Select and order men's wedding attire

  • Finalize all honeymoon plans and send in deposits if required

 

Two months before

  • Address invitations and announcements

  • Mail 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding

  • Finalize all details with caterer, photographer, florist, musicians, etc.

  • Order wedding cake, if not supplied by a caterer

  • Finalize ceremony details with officiant

  • Make rehearsal arrangements

  • Plan rehearsal dinner

  • Plan bridesmaids’ luncheon

  • Make appointments with hairdresser

  • Arrange accommodations for out-of-town attendants or guests

  • Finalize honeymoon plans

 

Two months before

  • Meet with officiant to finalize ceremony details

  • Assist parents with plans for rehearsal dinner party

  • Arrange accommodations for out of town attendants

 

One month before

  • Have a final fitting for your and bridal attendants gowns

  • Get Florida marriage license

  • Make transportation arrangements for wedding day

  • Purchase gifts for attendants

  • Purchase gift for fiancée, if gifts are being exchanged

  • Purchase going away outfit

  • Keep a careful record of all gifts received (write thank-you notes immediately)

  • Make sure you have all accessories: toasting goblets, ring pillow, garter, etc.

  • Select responsible person to handle guest book and determine its location

 

One month before

  • See that all attendants have been fitted and wedding attire has been ordered

  • Purchase gifts for the best man and ushers

  • Purchase wedding gift for fiancée, if gifts are being exchanged

  • Pick up wedding rings

  • Make sure they fit

  • Take care of business and legal affairs (insurance policies, wills, checking accounts, etc.)

 

Two weeks before

  • Attend to business and legal details

  • Get necessary forms to change name on Social Security card, and driver's license

  • Don’t forget insurance and medical plans, bank accounts; make a will

  • Prepare wedding announcements to be sent to newspaper

  • Reconfirm the accommodations for out-of-town guests

 

Two weeks before

  • Together with fiancée, gather necessary documents and get your marriage license

  • Arrange wedding day transportation

  • Reconfirm accommodations for out of town guests

  • Have your hair cut

 

One week before

  • Contact guests who have not responded

  • Give the final count to caterer and review details

  • Go over final details with all professional services you have engaged

  • Inform them of any changes

  • Give photographer the list of pictures you want (see Photo Checklist)

  • Give the videographer a list of shots you would like included in the video

  • Give all musicians the lists of music for the ceremony and reception

  • Plan the seating arrangements

  • Arrange for someone to assist with last minute errands and to help you dress

  • Practice having your hair done to make sure it comes out properly

  • Practice using your make-up in the same type of lighting you will have on the wedding date

  • Keep up with the writing of your thank you notes

  • Pack your suitcase for the honeymoon

  • Make sure you have a Florida marriage license

  • Make sure you have the wedding rings, and they fit

  • Make sure all wedding attire is picked up and fits

  • Have a rehearsal with all participants, reviewing their duties

  • Attend rehearsal dinner party

  • Stay calm and enjoy yourself

  • Stay with the family the night before the wedding

  • Get to bed early - you want to look and feel great the next day

 

One week before

  • Discuss all final details with fiancée

  • Pick up and try on wedding attire

  • See that attendants get their wedding attire

  • Pack clothes for honeymoon

  • Reconfirm all honeymoon reservations

  • If flying, make sure you have plane tickets

  • See to it that you and your attendants are at the rehearsal and that they know their duties

  • Go over special seating with ushers

  • Make sure luggage is in the car or the hotel where you will stay your first night

 

On Your Wedding Day

  • Fix hair or have it done at least 3 to 4 hours before the ceremony

  • Make sure nails are done

  • Start dressing one to one and a half hours before ceremony -o r earlier, if pictures are being taken before ceremony

  • Have the music start thirty minutes before ceremony

  • Have guests seated

 

The Wedding Day

  • Allow plenty of time to get dressed

  • Get to ceremony location on time

  • Give the best man the bride’s wedding ring

  • Place the officiant’s fee in a sealed envelope

  • Give it to the best man to present after the ceremony

  • Bring marriage license to ceremony

 

After the ceremony

  • Send announcement and wedding picture to newspapers

  • Write and mail thank you notes